Section 1031 of the Bill extends the Congressional Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed after the September 11th attacks to encompass any individual who has “substantially supported” Al Qaeda, the Taliban, or “associated forces”.

This is extraordinarily vague. The phrase ‘associated forces’ is so flexible that it can be used to encompass almost any militant Islamic group in existence from Indonesia to Nigeria. It might include political parties who share some of the militants’ aims but not their methods – like the Hizb ut Tahrir movement active in Western Europe and Australia.

The Bill does not set any territorial limits on where this conflict is being fought. The presumption is that US forces can engage terror groups with kinetic weapons systems wherever they find them – London, Copenhagen, Istanbul and Kampala are all fair game and to hell with consequences for any citizens of those countries who get caught in the middle.

Also alarmingly imprecise is the term “substantially supported.” In the past the Department of Defense has described both writing an opinion piece for The Guardian, a globally respected British newspaper, and detainee suicide as terrorist acts. To date, this bar has not been set high.

Some of those accused of terrorist affiliations have languished for almost a decade at Guantanamo and are still no nearer having their day in court. Requiring trials by Military Commission will simply relegate more accused individuals to the Twilight Zone of indefinite detention.

Article 9 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) requires trial within “a reasonable time” and so this measure also racks up another human rights abuse for the United States government while contributing nothing to the overall security of the American people.

Also, let us not forget that the Military Commissions currently consist of two temporary courtrooms on the Guantanamo Naval Station that have barely managed to process six cases in almost a decade. How on earth does the Senate expect them to cope with such an expanded mission?

One answer might be building more courtrooms, and of course more prisons to hold the accused. Yet, Guantanamo is already the most expensive prison on earth – it currently costs the US taxpayer $800,000 per prisoner per year to run – even a former deputy commander calls it “expensive” and “inefficient”.

So much for slashing government spending – where’s the deficit reduction super committee when you need it?

Even if an individual is exonerated of any wrongdoing, Section 1033 of the Bill requires that they continue to be held in Gitmo if there is a confirmed case of detainee recidivism in that individual’s country of origin.

Imagine if your personal freedom depended on the lawful behavior of every single one of your fellow 350 million US citizens – we’d all be in jail.

Finally, there is the military itself to consider. The armed services have a limited criminal investigative capacity and much of that force is already deployed down range in vital counter-terrorist operations. Giving the military an expanded investigative mission is going to divert resources from the frontlines.

That does not seem very smart.

No one wants this. Not the military. Not the intelligence community. Not law enforcement. Not the courts.

S1867 proposes an ill-conceived fix for a problem that doesn’t exist. Federal courts have processed hundreds of terrorism-related cases in the decade since 9/11. The process is established, respected, efficient and well supported.

The Senate seems to have forgotten T. Bert Lance’s celebrated dictum ‘if ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and, if this Bill passes, we are all going to have to live with the consequences unless President Obama finally shows an appetite to fight for what he once believed in.

On the campaign trial Mr. Obama described Military Commissions as “an enormous failure.” They were then and they still are today. We are calling on President Obama to stand up for America’s courts and veto this legislation if it clears the Hill.

About Tom Parker

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26 thoughts on “Senate's Disastrous New Detention Bill”

I no longer trust Obama to do the right thing. He is a hypocrite and a terrible disappointment to all of us who voted for him. I am starting to think the only solution is a total change to the structure of our government. OWS just may be right!

I no longer trust Obama to do the right thing. He is a hypocrite and a terrible disappointment to all of us who voted for him. I am starting to think the only solution is a total change to the structure of our government. OWS just may be right!

Bill Seeks Terror Designation for Flotilla Groups :: The Investigative …
The first flotilla in May 2010 was organized by a coalition of international organizations including the Islamist Turkish organization IHH and the Free Gaza … http://www.investigativeproject.org/…/bill-seeks-terro....

Bill Seeks Terror Designation for Flotilla Groups :: The Investigative …
The first flotilla in May 2010 was organized by a coalition of international organizations including the Islamist Turkish organization IHH and the Free Gaza … http://www.investigativeproject.org/…/bill-seeks-terro....

Bill Seeks Terror Designation for Flotilla Groups :: The Investigative …
The first flotilla in May 2010 was organized by a coalition of international organizations including the Islamist Turkish organization IHH and the Free Gaza … http://www.investigativeproject.org/…/bill-seeks-terro....

Don't be too quick to blame Obama for this. He didn't start it, and I can't imagine him signing it if it passes. PLEASE make your opinion on it known to him and all your elected officials. We won't win if we just gripe about it – we have to tell the right people what we think. tell them!

Don’t be too quick to blame Obama for this. He didn’t start it, and I can’t imagine him signing it if it passes. PLEASE make your opinion on it known to him and all your elected officials. We won’t win if we just gripe about it – we have to tell the right people what we think. tell them!

The ACLU also has a great entry on this Bill that I would recommend for reading. So far, this Bill is the brainchild of those in the Senate, and therefore any blame can not yet be placed with the executive branch. There is an upcoming meeting this week between the House and the Senate, and depending on what happens there, the Veto will hopefully be brought into play.
You'll have to copy paste the link, sorry 🙁http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senato…

The ACLU also has a great entry on this Bill that I would recommend for reading. So far, this Bill is the brainchild of those in the Senate, and therefore any blame can not yet be placed with the executive branch. There is an upcoming meeting this week between the House and the Senate, and depending on what happens there, the Veto will hopefully be brought into play.
You'll have to copy paste the link, sorry 🙁http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senato…

The ACLU also has a great entry on this Bill that I would recommend for reading. So far, this Bill is the brainchild of those in the Senate, and therefore any blame can not yet be placed with the executive branch. There is an upcoming meeting this week between the House and the Senate, and depending on what happens there, the Veto will hopefully be brought into play.
You'll have to copy paste the link, sorry 🙁http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senato…

The ACLU also has a great entry on this Bill that I would recommend for reading. So far, this Bill is the brainchild of those in the Senate, and therefore any blame can not yet be placed with the executive branch. There is an upcoming meeting this week between the House and the Senate, and depending on what happens there, the Veto will hopefully be brought into play.
You’ll have to copy paste the link, sorry 🙁

This type of action is necessary as long as electronic attacks are in progress. Canada needs to militarize as well. Electronic torture continues unchecked by authorities in Ontario, Canada. Geneva conventions have been thrown out. All Embassies should be notified. Other countries need to demand their people back from Canada. Environmental risks, including nuclear, continue to be extreme. Zero military action in spite of repeated requests for intervention, and petitions in place demanding action against microwave abuse and electronic torture in the Scarborough, Ontario area. No environmental or health education after two different nuclear breaches, two different Ontario nuclear installations. Post torture forces and civilians denied access to health care or justice, including returning combat soldiers. Torture investigation has been placed on hold by provincial and federal level authorities. Zero post torture counsel for Canadians. We are at extreme risk and undefended. Contacted Interpol today.
Extreme Stockholme continues. Health triage and social services defunct and abusive in Owen Sound, Ontario. Zero UN or CFB guidance. Now our hospitals are holding cells and torture facilities- using electronic torture, extreme and illegal confinement, as well as hands on force in hospitals, long term care facilities and crisis centres for those prior assaulted. Any help would be appreciated.

This type of action is necessary as long as electronic attacks are in progress. Canada needs to militarize as well. Electronic torture continues unchecked by authorities in Ontario, Canada. Geneva conventions have been thrown out. All Embassies should be notified. Other countries need to demand their people back from Canada. Environmental risks, including nuclear, continue to be extreme. Zero military action in spite of repeated requests for intervention, and petitions in place demanding action against microwave abuse and electronic torture in the Scarborough, Ontario area. No environmental or health education after two different nuclear breaches, two different Ontario nuclear installations. Post torture forces and civilians denied access to health care or justice, including returning combat soldiers. Torture investigation has been placed on hold by provincial and federal level authorities. Zero post torture counsel for Canadians. We are at extreme risk and undefended. Contacted Interpol today.
Extreme Stockholme continues. Health triage and social services defunct and abusive in Owen Sound, Ontario. Zero UN or CFB guidance. Now our hospitals are holding cells and torture facilities- using electronic torture, extreme and illegal confinement, as well as hands on force in hospitals, long term care facilities and crisis centres for those prior assaulted. Any help would be appreciated.

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